ComEd Offers Fall Planting Tips

Now that fall has officially arrived, many homeowners may be considering new plantings around their property. ComEd has some tips on helping customers pick the right tree for the right location at your home.

Annually, the company spends more than $43 million on tree clearance to reduce tree-related outages and promote safety around its distribution lines. ComEd receives more than 18,000 customer requests for tree maintenance, typically with trees considered incompatible around power lines such as silver maples, sycamores and white pines.

Whether customers are property owners, part of a community group or a developer, ComEd urges people to plant trees that will stay clear of overhead power lines. Tall growing trees should be planted at least 45 feet away from lines to avoid regular pruning.

"Take the time to do your research," suggested Doreen Masalta, ComEd's manager of vegetation management. "Ask the nursery how tall and wide the tree will be when it is fully grown and make sure there will be adequate space around overhead power lines."

ComEd encourages the planting of flowering trees that grow to heights less than 20 feet, such as dogwoods and crabapples, near the street. Trees that grow to more than 30 feet high should never be planted under power lines. At full height, these trees may grow into the lines and cause outages or pose a safety hazard. They will need to be trimmed regularly to safely coexist with the aerial power lines and may not look as originally desired.

Planting the right tree in the right place also can be energy efficient. Evergreens planted along a property's northern side serve as a "windbreaker," making it easier to heat the property during the harsher winter months.

Large trees that shed their leaves in the autumn, such as maple or oak, should be planted on the south and west side of a building to allow winter sunshine and provide summer shade. Also, thick shrubbery can be planted around air conditioners to shade the unit from the hot summer sun, as long as the shrubbery does not impede the compressor's operation.

"By reinforcing the importance of planting the right trees and shrubs under or near energized facilities, we can prevent future vegetation-related power outages and increase our ability to provide safe and reliable electric service," Masalta said.

ComEd maintains more than 2.5 million trees on a four-year cycle along more than 43,000 miles of power line right-of-ways. The company's vegetation management department consists of professional foresters who manage contractor performance, address dozens of community groups, and provide utility tree care information and consulting services for municipalities and customers.

Fallen tree limbs and trees growing into above ground power lines are one of the most common causes of power outages. ComEd's routine line clearance work plays a vital part in the company's efforts to prevent power outages and reduce the length of outages when they do occur.

Intel and DIRECTV Partner to Connect PCs and TVs

Intel and DIRECTV recently released details for what they are calling the world's first digital set-top box. With integrated digital media adapter (DMA) functionality verified to work with Intel® Viiv™ technology, the DIRECTV digital set-top box will allow customers to access and enjoy their pictures and music on their TVs directly from Intel Viiv technology-based PCs.

In a keynote at the Intel Developer Forum, Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini detailed plans for DIRECTV's new set-top box, the DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR, which marks the first time a major service provider has endorsed an integrated DMA deployment in the home through a set-top box, which could be deployed to customers virtually overnight via a software download starting in December. Otellini reinforced that the DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR is in the final stages of Intel Viiv technology testing and verification.

Delivering the ability to record and view 200 hours of standard definition content or 50 hours of MPEG 4 high-definition programming, the new DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR receiver verified with Intel Viiv technology will allow consumers to enjoy new experiences that combine the best of the TV with the best of the PC.

"With a simple software download, DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR customers nationwide can enjoy on their TV favorite photos and music albums that have been tucked away on their PCs," said Kevin Corbett, vice president of Intel's Digital Home Group and general manager of the company's Content Services Group. "Having the nation's leading satellite television service provider with a 15 million and growing customer base introduce the world's first Intel Viiv technology-verified set-top box is a significant milestone, accelerating the number of connected digital homes."

"Intel Viiv technology delivers the power, simplicity and functionality to connect these products in an easy and seamless fashion so DIRECTV customers can enjoy their favorite digital content in the living room," said Romulo Pontual, chief technology officer at DIRECTV. "Our strategic relationship with Intel, and joint commitment to an industry standards-based approach for securely delivering a premium TV experience on multiple devices, will ensure that DIRECTV customers have the flexibility to view content when, where and how they want it."

The two companies expect this capability to accelerate the adoption of connected digital homes by providing a substantial footprint of interoperable set-top boxes and PCs.

Read more in the Intel press release Home ???Intel, DIRECTV Poised to Connect PCs and TVs in U.S..

Comcast Selects StarTek to Support Comcast Digital Voice®

StarTek, a provider of Business Process Outsourcing and Optimization (BPO) services for outsourced customer interactions, recently announced that Comcast has selected them to support Comcast Digital Voice® IP-enabled phone service,  StarTek will provide provisioning services and additional back-office operations activities to support Comcast Digital Voice® service.

"Comcast has selected StarTek because of the company's demonstrated leadership in managing a variety of back-office solutions for voice service products," said Cathy Avgiris, SVP and GM, Voice Services, Comcast Cable. "Their proven provisioning expertise and national presence will help support the continued rollout of Comcast Digital Voice® service."

"StarTek is committed to supporting Comcast's voice services with the additional efficiencies that our StarTek Intelligent Enterprise suite of services delivers," said Steve Butler, CEO of StarTek. "Our process management solutions—which consist of telephony services and local number portability—will provide additional back-office support for Comcast's rapid rollout of Comcast Digital Voice®."

Check out the Comcast page for more information on Comcast Digital Voice®.

Cox Joins in on Worldwide Day of Play

Since I posted earlier this month about Charter's participation in the Worldwide Day of Play, I wanted to update that Multichannel News is reporting that Cox is joining in on the program urging children to get up from in front of their PCs and TVs in favor of physical activity.

According to MN, Lara Salamano, senior director of affiliate marketing for the Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group, said the company is very excited about Cox's support of the program. Part of Cox's participation includes its Orange County, Calif., cluster hosting an event in San Juan Capistrano, with an estimated 2,500 children expected to attend. The event will include stations focusing on characters created for Nickelodeon's Go Healthy Challenge.

In addition to the Worldwide Day of Play campaign, Nickelodeon sponsored the Let's Just Play Giveaway where children can log on to Nick.com and describe why play is important in their community and to nominate a local program that needs funding. The network has provided $1.4 million to local schools and other community organizations since August 2005, and it plans to award another $400,000 to 70 recipients in the next three months.

"Kids are really aware of this issue and they take advantage of the money for ways to play," Salamano said, noting that kids have asked everything for sports balls for physical-education classes to the construction of local bike paths.

Read more in the Multichannel News article Cox to Help Nick Play.

Starz Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television Announce Deal

Starz Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television have signed an exclusive agreement that provides Starz Entertainment with the rights to more than 500 movie titles from the Sony library. The company will be able to offer the content on multiple distribution platforms, including its 16 linear channels, subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) offerings and the broadband video download service, Vongo.

The library deal runs from 2008 to 2014 and provides Starz Entertainment's flagship Starz and Encore channels exclusive rights to a selection of Sony's library films, however the VOD deal for Vongo will be begin next month. Starz and Encore deliver programming to 15.1 million and 27.1 million homes respectively through cable, satellite and telco providers and its other advanced services. This new deal broadens the already-established relationship that gives them exclusive first-run premium cable channel outlet for all of Sony Pictures Entertainment's films.

"This partnership with Sony Pictures Television validates our position as a leader in movie entertainment and demonstrates our strategy to make a whole range of recent and beloved content available to our subscribers on all of our platforms," said Stephan Shelanski, Starz senior vice president, programming. "We are pleased to offer our subscribers access to Sony's extensive library of theatrical films that includes content from 'Gandhi' to 'Ghostbusters' to 'Godzilla,' via cable, or satellite, VOD and over broadband."

For more information, check out the press release.

Mobile ESPN to End Soon

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Mobile ESPN, a start-up cellphone company backed by Walt Disney Co., will announce as soon as today that it is closing down operations.

Launched at this year's Super Bowl, the company developed cellphones that feature a variety of sports-centric content and features. According to the WSJ, however, it has struggled to build a customer base in a fiercely competitive cellular industry.

Mobile ESPN operates through an agreement with Sprint Nextel Corp., paying for wholesale access to the carrier's network and then reselling service to its own subscribers. THe WSJ says that the company is now expected to shift its strategy significantly, getting out of the phone business to focus on its content.

For more information, check out the WSJ.com article Mobile ESPN Is to End Venture, Seek New Strategy.

Road Runner Celebrates Ten Years

Time Warner Cable's Road Runner Service is celebrating its ten year anniversary this month. The service was officially launched in a high-profile event on Sept. 10, 1996 in Akron, Ohio.  Time Warner Cable had initially tested the service in 1995 in Elmira, New York, and after the formal launch, rolled out the service to its customers nationwide over the next two years.

Since 1996, Road Runner has grown into an award-winning broadband service used by millions of people while the cost for the service has remained as low as $39.95. Features now include remote access, multiple e-mail accounts, free broadband content, security software, parental controls, instant messaging, video mail, PhotoShow Deluxe, personal Web space and optional wireless service. Download speeds have grown from approximately 1-1.5 mbps to 5-10 mbps, varying by location.  While Road Runner customers have always had access to local content, users can now also customize the site to meet their needs.

To see if Road Runner High Speed Online™ service is available near you, visit Time Warner Cable page at WhiteFence.

SIRIUS Introduces First Live Portable Satellite Radio

SIRIUS Satellite Radio has announced the availability of Stiletto 100, the company's first live portable radio, featuring WiFi, Yahoo!™ music purchasing software, and the ability to save music subscribers love for playback later.

Available this month, Stiletto 100 lets users listen to live SIRIUS programming almost anywhere in a small, stylish package, as well as store up to 100 hours of SIRIUS content. The device features WiFi capability for connection to SIRIUS' Internet radio services that allows for listening anywhere an accessible WiFi network is available.

User's own MP3/WMA files can also be stored on the Stiletto 100 and managed with the included My SIRIUS Studio™ software for Windows™ PCs. Stiletto 100 is compatible with most Windows-based Internet music providers' download and subscription services.

The Yahoo! Music Jukebox™ software will be included with the device, allowing users to bookmark individual songs into a favorites list, which can be accessed by a PC application when the unit is connected to user's computer. The application allows users to look up and purchase songs, full albums, or explore artists' other offerings through the Yahoo! Music Jukebox ™ software or other compatible online music download or subscription services. Once the song is purchased or rented, it can be transferred onto the Stiletto 100.

Measuring 4.7" x 2.0" x 1", Stiletto 100 stores up to 100 hours of live SIRIUS Satellite Radio programming (2 GB), has a large 2.2" bright display, Aurora graphic user interface and a six-way navigation control that provides easy one handed access to all features and content.

Other features include 30 channel presets; SIRIUS Replay™, which allows users to pause, rewind and replay 60 minutes of live radio; Game Alert™, which prompts the listener when favorite games are being broadcast and alerts when scores change; Game Zone™, listing all of the users favorite teams in one virtual category; and parental controls and channel lockout.

Read more about it in the press release SIRIUS Introduces the Stiletto 100, Its First Live Portable Satellite Radio. 

DIRECTV To Debut MySpace Reality Show

DIRECTV recently announced that that it will be the first to take the MySpace experience and bring it to life as a television show when its show Project MyWorld debuts Oct. 2 at 6:00 p.m. ET on DIRECTV's Channel 101. The show will follow three friends as they travel the world in search of love, adventure, independent bands and the real people around the world who have become their MySpace friends. DIRECTV's fourth original series is part documentary, part international odyssey and part Internet experience come to life.

DIRECTV will give the three women a voice to create, develop and produce Project MyWorld according to their own unique personalities for the ultimate in viewer-generated content. The three women will also serve as executive producers and maintain the show's Web site on MySpace at www.myspace.com/projectmyworld.

The program will introduce viewers to three friends: Shaina Fewell, Renee Intlekofer and Taryn Southern, and follow them as they traverse the globe in search of their MySpace friends worldwide and set out to fulfill their own personal missions. Shaina is on the hunt for the best indie band in each city, Renee is searching for international love and the feisty Taryn is looking for adventure.

"This is such a great concept and the fact that it's totally homegrown by Shaina, Taryn and Renee really drew us to the project," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president of entertainment at DIRECTV. "Project MyWorld is a completely new kind of show where everything from the music to the characters have a connection between the online world and real-life."

The women will begin their journey in Los Angeles and then continue on to such exotic locales such as Croatia, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and other countries in their worldwide tour. Their adventures will be shot documentary style in High-Definition and presented to viewers in a weekly half-hour television show.

For more information, check out the DIRECTV press release DIRECTV's New Original Series Project MyWorld Sends Three Friends to Conquer the World with Their MySpace Friends.

TXU Recognized in Power Provider Survey

TXU Corp. recently announced that it has been honored as the leading independent power producer by the 2006 Platts Top 250 Global Energy Companies survey, which recognizes the energy industry's top-performing companies around the world. The Platts Top 250 measured financial performance by examining each company's 2005 assets, revenues, profits and return on invested capital. TXU ranked 44th, up from 158th last year. In addition to ranking the top 250 companies, the Platts survey also distinguishes best performance in nine industry subcategories. TXU led the independent power producers subcategory this year, moving from seventh place in the 2005 rankings.

"Being awarded a ranking in the Platts Top 250 is a great accomplishment in itself," said C. John Wilder, chairman and CEO of TXU Corp. "And being at the top of a subcategory is an even greater achievement. It really speaks to the outstanding performance of TXU's team."

Through application of the TXU Operating System, with its program of lean concepts and continuous improvement, the progress TXU's solid-fuel power generation fleet has made to achieve operational excellence is the best in the industry. TXU's 5,800-megawatt coal-fired generation fleet is consistently producing at an industry-leading capacity factor that is almost 10 percent above the top-decile capacity factor for U.S. coal-fired generation plants. TXU's coal-fired power plants are also on a trajectory to achieve top-performing cost management. Its 2,300-MW Comanche Peak nuclear plant achieved its third-best annual production in 2005 in spite of refueling both units, and its cost performance is trending to top levels.

TXU has also launched its Power the Future of Texas program to ensure a reliable supply of electricity and reduce wholesale power costs by $1.7 billion annually for a state with the nation's highest electricity demand, an expanding economy and a growing population. TXU's plan to invest more than $10 billion will bring nine gigawatts (GW) of new low-cost, efficient power generation to Texas. Without massive new supply, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas warns that reserve margins will be unreliable by 2008. TXU's plan will also mean cleaner air for Texans. The combination of investment in the newest emissions control technology and the largest voluntary emissions reduction program ever will create the nation's cleanest large-scale coal fleet, and independent air modeling analysis has determined that TXU's environmental commitments will improve the state's air quality. TXU is using its TXU Operating System, the large scale of its program, a proprietary standard plant design and existing infrastructure to build its plants faster and more economically than the typical developer.

TXU's power generation expansion program also includes plans to develop three to five GW of power generation in the Eastern U.S. and plans to file license applications for two to six GW of nuclear-fueled generation.

For more information, check out the  Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings